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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Athini Chithini

From Thenali · 2000

Lyricist
Arivumathi
Singers
Hariharan, Kamal Haasan, Chitra Sivaraman
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Thenali
Movie release year
2000
Lyrics added on
5 Nov 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{Thakgidu thathha
Thakgidu thathha
Thakgidu thathha thath} (2)
Thakgidu thattha athini chiththini
Thakgidu thattha pathini tharangini
Oo athini chiththini pathini tharangini
Oo adi athini chiththini pathini tharangini
Pengal thedum vagai theriyumadi
Ohooo…oooo..oo…oo..ooo
Ohooo…oooo..oo…oo..ooo
Ooo..ooo..ooo..ooo
Kiliyae kiliyae kiliyae
Kiliyae kiliyae kiliyae
Nee kiliaye kiliyae kiliyae
Kiliyae kiliyae kiliyae vaa
Kiliyae kiliyae kiliyae…
Kiliyae kiliyae varuvayaa
Eh hey eh hey
Thakgidu thattha athini chiththini
Thakgidu thattha pathini tharangini
Oo adi athini chiththini pathini tharangini
Pengal thedum vagai theriyumadi
Ahaa….aaa….haaa…aaaa….
Ahaaa…aaaa….
Haaa…aaaa…aaa……
Adai mazhai thaalaadhu podaa
En kanna en kanna
Male :Madana kamarasan konja
Azhaikiren unnai
Valaiyalaal konji
Minji ketten ho..ooo
Male :Un kaal kolusinil
Kenjal kanden pennae
Ohooo…oooo..oo…oo..ooo
Ohooo…oooo..oo…oo..ooo
Ooo..ooo..ooo..ooo
Kiliyae kiliyae kiliyae
Kiliyae kiliyae kiliyae
Nee kiliaye kiliyae kiliyae
Kiliyae kiliyae kiliyae vaa
Kiliyae kiliyae kiliyae…
Kiliyae kiliyae varuvayaa
Thara rara raa…rathaa..aaa
Kundrinil kurinji kanden
Un kola idaiyinil marudham kanden
Female :Haa…aaaa……aaaa…
Male :Kangalil neidhal kanden
Un kai viral azhaginil mullai kanden
Guru mozhi illadha
Kalai katru parppom vaa…aaa
Nee koodi pirigaiyil
Suriyan parppom vaa
Ohooo…oooo..oo…oo..ooo
Female :Ohooo…oooo..oo…oo..ooo
Male :Ooo..ooo..ooo..ooo
Kiliyae kiliyae kiliyae
Kiliyae kiliyae kiliyae
Nee kiliaye kiliyae kiliyae
Kiliyae kiliyae kiliyae vaa
Kiliyae kiliyae kiliyae…
Kiliyae kiliyae nee varuvayaa
Thakkidu thaththa
Female :Vallinam kalanginam
Male :Thakkidu thaththa
Female :Idaiyinam odindhanam
Male :Ohh…adi
Female :Vallinam idaiyinam mellinam
Ada vallinam idaiyinam mellinam
Naanam koochchalida sivandhanam
{Thakkidu thaththa
Thakkidu thaththa
Thakkidu thaththa thath} (2)
Thakkidu thaththa, Athini, Chitrini
Thakkidu thaththa, Padmini, Tharangini
Oh, Athini, Chitrini, Padmini, Tharangini
Oh girl, Athini, Chitrini, Padmini, Tharangini
I know the kinds of women men desire, my girl!
Oho… oh… oh… oh… oho
Oho… oh… oh… oh… oho
Oh… oh… oh… oh
My sweet parrot, my parrot, my parrot
My sweet parrot, my parrot, my parrot
You, my sweet parrot, my parrot, my parrot
My sweet parrot, my parrot, come to me
My sweet parrot, my parrot, my parrot…
My sweet parrot, will you come to me?
Hey hey, hey hey
Thakkidu thaththa, Athini, Chitrini
Thakkidu thaththa, Padmini, Tharangini
Oh girl, Athini, Chitrini, Padmini, Tharangini
I know the kinds of women men desire, my girl!
Aaha… aa… haa… aaaa…
Aaha… aaaa…
Haa… aaaa… aa…
This heavy rain will not stop, go on,
My dear one, my darling
Male: Like the God of Love wanting to embrace,
I am calling out for you
Coaxing you with the sound of my bangles,
I pleaded with my toe-rings, oh…
Male: In the sound of your anklets,
I heard your sweet pleading, my girl
Oho… oh… oh… oh… oho
Oho… oh… oh… oh… oho
Oh… oh… oh… oh
My sweet parrot, my parrot, my parrot
My sweet parrot, my parrot, my parrot
You, my sweet parrot, my parrot, my parrot
My sweet parrot, my parrot, come to me
My sweet parrot, my parrot, my parrot…
My sweet parrot, will you come to me?
Thaara raara ra… radhaa… aa
I saw Kurinji (mountain lands) in your peaks,
I saw Marutham (fertile plains) in your shapely waist
Female: Haa… aaaa…… aaaa…
Male: I saw Neithal (ocean waters) in your eyes,
I saw Mullai (forest jasmines) in the beauty of your fingers
Without the formal lessons of any teacher,
Come, let us learn the art of love and see
As we unite and then part with the night,
Come, let us greet the morning sun
Oho… oh… oh… oh… oho
Female: Oho… oh… oh… oh… oho
Male: Oh… oh… oh… oh
My sweet parrot, my parrot, my parrot
My sweet parrot, my parrot, my parrot
You, my sweet parrot, my parrot, my parrot
My sweet parrot, my parrot, come to me
My sweet parrot, my parrot, my parrot…
My sweet parrot, will you come to me?
Thakkidu thaththa
Female: The hard consonants trembled,
Male: Thakkidu thaththa
Female: The slender middle yielded,
Male: Oh, my girl…
Female: Hard, medial, and soft sounds of passion,
Oh, hard, medial, and soft,
Blushed deep red as shyness cried out aloud!
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Male
Female
Male
Female
Chorus
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from the movie Thenali (2000), composed by A. R. Rahman and written by Arivumathi, is a playful and highly poetic romantic duet. The track utilizes classical classification systems of feminine grace (the traditional Samudrika Lakshanam archetypes: Padmini, Chitrini, Shankhini, and Hastini) alongside Tamil Sangam poetic landscapes (Kurinji, Marudham, Neidhal, Mullai) and Tamil grammatical elements (Vallinam, Idaiyinam, Mellinam) as metaphors for physical beauty, love, and intimacy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Aetiyadhigal / Traditional Categorization Metaphor

“Thakgidu thattha athini chiththini pathini tharangini”

References the four classical types of women in classical Indian erotic literature: Padmini, Chitrini, Shankhini (Pathini/Tharangini variations), and Hastini (Athini).

Thinai Metaphor (Ainthinai / Sangam Poetic Landscapes)

“Kundrinil kurinji kanden un kola idaiyinil marudham kanden”

Compares features of the beloved's body to the traditional five landscapes of Tamil Sangam poetry: Kurinji (hills), Marudham (plains/fields), Neidhal (sea/coasts), and Mullai (forests).

Grammatical Metaphor (Meyyezhuthu Categorization)

“Female :Vallinam idaiyinam mellinam”

Uses Tamil consonant classifications—Vallinam (hard), Idaiyinam (medium), and Mellinam (soft)—as an intricate metaphor describing emotional and physical sensations during romance.

Anaphora / Repetition (Epanalepsis)

“Kiliyae kiliyae kiliyae”

Repeats the term of endearment 'Kiliyae' (parrot) rhythmically to emphasize affectionate pleading.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the music for 'Thenali' was composed by A. R. Rahman, this specific track 'Athini Chiththini' (often referred to as 'Alangatti Mazhai' or 'Kiliye Kiliye') features lyrics by poet Arivumathi, who seamlessly incorporated ancient Tamil Sangam literary tropes (Ainthinai) and Tamil grammar classifications (Vallinam, Idaiyinam, Mellinam) into modern film music.

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